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This paper reports on a pilot implementation of the FL2 approach and resources, developed to support tertiary students' wellbeing as well as their second language learning (L2). The FL2 approach and learning activities were piloted in two Spanish language courses at Australian universities. Evaluation data were collected through an online survey of participating students and compared to the results of previous pilots conducted with students of Italian. Responses to scale items and open-ended questions indicate that the majority of participants greatly enjoyed their experiences in the courses and were satisfied with the learning opportunities provided, which shows potential for the FL2 approach. Evaluations of seven Positive Psychology-informed learning activities also piloted in this study were more nuanced. Taken together, these results suggest that designing curriculum to support student wellbeing as well as disciplinary learning can yield positive results. However, careful consideration must be given to alignment between FL2 activities and curriculum, as well as to students' individual differences in the reception of Positive Psychology-informed activities.

We explore the impact of language education policy on language enrolments and provision in primary and secondary government schools In Australia, specifically in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, which have strikingly different policy settings. NSW adopts a 'weak but flexible' policy, mandating a very limited minimum time allocation for language study but allowing multiple entry points at senior secondary level. Victoria adopts a 'strong' mandatory policy, requiring continuous commitment to language study. Using available data, the study first compares enrolment data trends overall before considering the most widely taught languages at primary and secondary level, with additional analysis of a single secondary student cohort. Amongst the findings, we observe a marked reversal of previously falling language enrolments over time in Victoria, with substantially higher numbers overall compared to NSW where numbers have instead fallen, thus seemingly attesting to the impact of effective mandatory policies. While neither policy setting seems impactful enough in attracting and sustaining language study through to senior secondary level, a seeming pattern of convergence at this level masks at least partly the effect of access to alternative learning mechanisms on enrolments, resulting in much more frequent completion of Year 12 language study in Victoria.

In this article I adopt a family language policy approach and a diachronic perspective to explore how the dialect-Italian dynamics unfolds differently within different cohorts of Italian migrants due to the hierarchical position of the two heritage languages. I highlight three main issues that emerge across time in the language policies in the home; the relevance of linguistic stratification in the migrants' repertoires, especially with regard to the interplay between language ideologies, beliefs and practices; the extent to which we can talk of agency of choice vis-à-vis linguistic stratification; and the role of education. The tension between the two languages generally plays out in favour of Italian, in spite of the emotional attachment to dialect that persists across generations. The language policies of Italo-Australian families call attention to the challenges that migrants, and dialect speakers in particular, have to face regarding language maintenance, while the diachronic perspective highlights the dynamic and contextual nature of such policies.

This article presents the findings of an online survey conducted amongst bi- (English, Italian) and trilingual (English, Italian and dialect) Italo-Australian youth, exploring self-assessed language competence, self-reported language choice in various communicative situations, and attitudes towards heritage languages. These young people appear more confident in their Italian than in their dialect skills, and in their ability to understand than to speak. The majority report to employ both languages -- and especially Italian -- to address a small number of interlocutors, not just the older relatives but also their peers. They resort to Italian more frequently in situations that involve the Internet, thus highlighting the role that technology can play in language maintenance. In terms of attitudes, they display strong affect towards both languages, however they hold more positive attitudes towards Italian. Both languages are connected with family, culture and roots, but are considered of low instrumental value, especially in the case of dialect. The overall shift away from dialect marks a significant difference with language trends observed among previous generations of Italo-Australians, thus confirming the longer-term maintenance in a migration context of the High language, in that it can rely on a wide range of supportive factors.

This paper presents findings from the "Flourishing in a Second Language" (FL2) project--a language curriculum for first-year university students which integrates Positive Psychology (Seligman, 2002), Transition Pedagogy (Kift, 2009a), and CLIL principles (Coyle, 2006). The project aims to create learning experiences that are personally relevant, and that facilitate alignment between learners' interests, linguistic goals, and cognitive challenges posed by the tasks, in order to increase the perceived value of language learning and sustain students' motivation. More specifically, the project involves re-designing language learning activities typically found in beginners' level classes, to include strategies and contents believed to facilitate transition, as well as enhance students' psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing. In this paper, we evaluate the trial implementation of the FL2 activities integrated into the beginners' curriculum at two different universities. Feedback obtained from language experts and practitioners in language education and Positive Psychology is also briefly discussed.

Australian research on immigrant languages has paid little attention to interactional approaches to language alternation as identity construction, and sites other than the family and the mainstream school. We argue for the need of studies that take into account a wider range of sites, in particular "community" sites, and adopt fine-grained approaches through micro-level data, to provide more linguistic evidence and support for findings identified using other strategies. Drawing on micro-sociolinguistic research conducted in Australia in the ethnic media and the community languages schools, we show how in these "in-between" sites (Tsolidis & Kostogriz, 2008) language choice is often a matter of negotiation, and the issues of language use and identity tend to be foregrounded. We also address the questions of why these sites have been less researched and the value of findings from them in terms of language and identity research in multilingual contexts.

This paper gives a critical overview of Australian research in the area of immigrant languages, arguing that this field of study is a significant component of the wider applied linguistics scene in Australia and has also contributed to enhancing the broad appreciation of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country. It shows that research into immigrant languages has drawn upon a range of paradigms and evaluates those that have been most productively used. The paper argues that new research developments are needed to take into account the changing linguistic landscape of Australia and the increased fluidity and mobility of current migration. (Contains 9 endnotes.)

In the process of language shift from the immigrant languages to English, everyday communication within the family can become increasingly problematic due to strong divergences in the linguistic competences of the older and the younger generations. This article explores the process of language mediation between different generations, as it occurs within a Sicilian-Australian family belonging to the last wave of Italian mass immigration to Australia. Through a corpus of spontaneous conversations, the study focuses on the role played by a second generation woman as a mediator within her family. The linguistic analysis shows that, in order to overcome communication breakdown, she makes full use of her competence in all three languages: Italian, Sicilian and English, and employs codeswitching extensively as a conversational strategy to accommodate participants with different language abilities. Furthermore, while she maintains Dialect as the language of the most inner family circle, she shifts to Italian as the more "learnable" language that can contribute to cohesion in the extended family. (Contains 5 notes.)

Presents data on patterns of language use by Italians living in Australia, focusing on the maintenance of Italian and Dialect under the impact of widespread shift to English. Data from self-report surveys suggest differences by gender, age, and region of origin and note that the position of Italian, though more limited, is somewhat more solid than that of Dialect. (SM)

Examines the pedagogical uses and implications of asynchronous e-mail exchanges by reporting on a pilot project involving student-to-student penpal correspondence between the Departments of Italian at two Australian universities. Students were matched by their linguistic proficiency, then given writing tasks in pairs. The project was successful in motivating students to write and learn the language. (SM)

First results of a survey of English use in 202 Italo-Australian subjects in 46 situations show a widespread shift to English, beginning with younger (first generation) subjects and increasing dramatically among members of the second generation. Italo-Australians' English usage depends more on personal characteristics of speakers than on topic or place of conversation. (10 references) (CP)

Discusses the results of research to determine the success of the efforts currently being made in schools to teach pure Italian to the second generation of Italians in Australia in order to replace Italian Australian, a mixture of Italian dialects, Italian, and English. 33 references. (CFM)

Australian Universities are increasingly seeking ways to better prepare their graduates for the workplace by developing attributes required by employers and/or by offering internships and work placements. This article reports on a new course developed in the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Sydney that in line with these directions, connects advanced students of Italian with commercial, cultural and educational Italian work realities operating in Sydney. The course increases students' confidence to operate in Italian-speaking workplaces as well as their knowledge of contemporary Italy, while helping them identify future career opportunities. Drawing on students' evaluations and comments from the commercial partners, the paper discusses strengths and challenges of the course, which demonstrates the opportunity for humanistic subjects to create concrete links with the work environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives a critical overview of Australian research in the area of immigrant languages, arguing that this field of study is a significant component of the wider applied linguistics scene in Australia and has also contributed to enhancing the broad appreciation of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country. It shows that research into immigrant languages has drawn upon a range of paradigms and evaluates those that have been most productively used. The paper argues that new research developments are needed to take into account the changing linguistic landscape of Australia and the increased fluidity and mobility of current migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]